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What’s the Difference Between MS and CCSVI?

I’ve been very wary about “believing” in CCSVI as the miracle cure that a lot of people seem to be claiming. Dr. Zamboni seemed to me to be claiming too much, too soon, without a lot of research to back his claims up. Here’s an article explaining a little about it, and I’ll discuss it below.

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What Is The Difference Between Multiple Sclerosis And CCSVI?

While Multiple Sclerosis and CCSVI are two separate conditions, it is very easy to become confused between the two. In essence, they occur within the same part of the body and have very similar symptoms. It is also possible that one causes the other, or vice versa. These two medical conditions have been associated with the other since their discovery.

﻿﻿Before the recognition of diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and CCSVI, doctors believed in all sorts of superstitions regarding the brain. It was not until the late 19th century that conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, and other abnormalities of the central nervous system, were acknowledged. Soon, all doctors recognized the fact that mental illnesses are usually caused by disorders and injuries related to the brain.Multiple Sclerosis was first diagnosed in England by a man named Dr. Moxen. Slowly, more and more research was conducted on those who experienced phenomenons such as dizziness, numbness, and loss of control over bodily functions. But even in recent years, little information has been made available about the debilitating disease.

Before the recognition of diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and CCSVI, doctors believed in all sorts of superstitions regarding the brain. It was not until the late 19th century that conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, and other abnormalities of the central nervous system, were acknowledged. Soon, all doctors recognized the fact that mental illnesses are usually caused by disorders and injuries related to the brain.

Multiple Sclerosis was first diagnosed in England by a man named Dr. Moxen. Slowly, more and more research was conducted on those who experienced phenomenons such as dizziness, numbness, and loss of control over bodily functions. But even in recent years, little information has been made available about the debilitating disease.

When Italian doctor Paolo Zamboni discovered that his wife was victim of Multiple Sclerosis, he set out to research the condition and find a cure. What he discovered was that almost all patients of MS have narrow or blocked veins leading from the brain to the heart. Those with insufficient drainage of spent blood from the brain to the heart often had blood reflux back to the brain. This, he concluded, was the cause of the neuron damage that attributes to Multiple Sclerosis.He called it, “chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency” or CCSVI. This newly discovered disorder was diagnosed in some patients who had not experienced the neuron damage associated with MS. While Zamboni believed that CCSVI is the cause of Multiple Sclerosis, other medical professionals argue that it is quite the opposite. Perhaps, they say, patients with MS are simply very likely to have problems with their veins, as well.

Zamboni developed a procedure, best known as Liberation treatment, which involves the use of medical balloons or splints to widen the passages that drain the blood from the brain. These damaged veins were often found to be surrounded by lesions that are often associated with Multiple Sclerosis. When these veins were able to carry blood freely from the brain and central nervous system, these damaged parts of the brain were able to work correctly to send impulses throughout the body and control the functions of life as they should.

As for Zamboni’s wife? She has not experienced Multiple Sclerosis symptoms post-procedure, and is happily enjoying her life symptom free. About half of all MS patients experienced a complete elimination of all symptoms after opting for Liberation treatment. Within the United States, it is rare to find a doctor who is able to do the procedure, and it has been banned in many states save for when performed for the purpose of research. Many patients have resorted to traveled outside of the country to find doctors who are willing to perform the operation. They feel they have nothing to lose, and many have faith that it is the true cure.

So here’s the thing: the only person I personally know who went for a “Liberation” treatment (on his own dime) got a whole lot of nothing out of it. He had it done over Christmas and he has noticed nothing. Nothing bad (except for his drained bank account,) but nothing good. I think the mistake is in assuming CCSVI and MS are the same thing. Maybe CCSVI is just another syndrome that shares a bunch of symptoms with MS, to the confusion of everyone involved. Have you heard that old cliche “too good to be true?”

I love the fact that so many people are posting videos about how the intravenous stent treatment for CCSVI has truly “liberated” them, I love that it IS helping a lot of people, but it’s not helping everyone with MS. At first I was very excited about the treatment, thinking “Awesome! A cure! Everyone will be able to get their lives back!” but the more I heard about it, the more it kinda sounded like “snake-oil” to me. Yes, I tend to be a skeptic.

And yet I wanted it to work – I wanted it to be at least a step towards the end of the hold MS has on the lives of those who live with it. It looks like it IS that step for some people – maybe someday soon there will be another step, and another, and more and more people with different symptoms of MS will be set free.

What’s Unhasty about Multiple Sclerosis?

Everything! Unhasty means taking time for deliberate thought. Most of what I've done to simplify my life since my diagnosis has been about slowing down, and giving myself time for deliberate thought and action. My goal is to make time for what I WANT to do rather than what I think I SHOULD be doing.